Talk:Bullying

Ha! I'm a teacher, bullying is one of the biggest problems in the school system, and we certainly don't tell children to 'just deal with it.' See the Safe Schools Act. Monitor 12:57, 8 November 2007 (EST)

When I taught, I made sure the principal would support my Iron Rule: bullies are handed a note to take home to their parents. They can't come back unless their parents agree to a strict "no bullying" policy. Two kids never came back - much to the other kids' relief. --Ed PoorTalk 17:50, 9 November 2007 (EST)

Not All Countries

Just with respect to this, in Australia (or NSW at least) most schools voluntarily run annual anti-bullying programs which arm the students with ideas on how to combat bullying and obtain help from an adult, in addition anti-bullying measures are within the syllabus for every year (we may watch a play on the effects of bullying for instance). Similarly police often adopt a hard line stance against bullying, we've recently gotten tougher new penalties for cyber bullying and physical bullying receives the full punishment of the law. I've read through the guide posted, and it is not a teaching guide but a pamphlet directed at parents, and seems to favour a preventative rather than reactionary approach. However, it says anything but that kids should learn to deal with it, the whole point is to tell parents how they can help their kids and on page 15 there is a section on on to how parents and teachers can work together to stop bullying, specifically "Parents and teachers need to cooperate to solve bully/victim problems." I don't know how on earth this source is used to justify "Educators have been known to countenance the practice by saying that as kids grow up, they simply must learn to deal with bullies", and a greater distinction needs to be made within the article between countries which do not take a hard line approach and others, such as Australia, which actively try to eradicate bullying from all educational institutions. TheGuy 19:13, 9 November 2007 (EST)

TheGuy, thanks for your input, and feel free to change the content page. That said, I would be very surprised if bullying in Australian schools is any different from anywhere else, regardless of what programs are run or what the guidelines say. It would surprise me if an "anti-bullying program" was a laughing stock in tough schools. Is Australia free of student gangs??? I don't think gangs are affected much by anti-bullying programs, for example. Godspeed to you.--Aschlafly 19:22, 9 November 2007 (EST)

It goes on here

Bullying is the use of force to get one's own way ... like blocking and threatening to block when things go pear-shaped on a talk page or article. VicTimme 15:46, 12 November 2007 (EST)

Apparently that concept of bullying escapes you. If you bother to read what goes on here, you are describing to a tee those people who log in and try to force their viewpoints on this site, never mind the fact that those viewpoints are hostile to this site. If you do not like this site, VicTimme, you are free to stay out of it. If you feel you can't do that, then you will RESPECT it. Karajou 16:03, 12 November 2007 (EST)

Or follow the good example of sysops? VicTimme 17:20, 12 November 2007 (EST)

Actually, Karajou, I think "Vic" brings up a good point. When is the use of force appropriate, and when is it "bullying"? Remember, that for anarchists no use of governmental force is ever appropriate.

Perhaps the key is to settle on a group of mutually agreeable rules. When I taught Sunday School, I propesed (1) No hitting others (2) No grabbing from them (3) No teasing. Very few of the students insisted on an absolute right to hit, grab, or tease - so we had consensus on the rules. --Ed PoorTalk 12:22, 13 November 2007 (EST)

I'll have to disagree with you in this instance, Ed. Vic's original point was expressed in the first line of this topic, in which he accuses us of blocking or threatening to block those we disagree with. There's just been too many instances of people coming on here and trying to force their position and view point on the site, and often using outright hostility. This is also bullying, which I clearly indicated in my reply. Karajou 18:22, 13 November 2007 (EST)